Traumics: The Church and Trauma in Comic Book Format

Abstract

Against the background of multiple cases of sexual abuse by church personnel, this contribution explores the traumic’s special range of expression in the area of religious taboo subjects. It is centred round the comic “Why I Killed Peter”. Its imaginative combination of words and images can make the perspective of the abused child visible and show the manipulative way the moment of abuse is prepared. It becomes clear how the abuser uses empathy to break down barriers and confuses the child’s perceptions by taking advantage of family conditioning. This essay thus sees itself as a contribution to the understanding of lived religion, and as a critical indication of what can lead to a disintegration of religious notions and values.